Fluid dispensing apparatus



May 28, 1935. E. H. LICHTENBERG FLUID DISPENSING APPARATUS A 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed NOV. 27, 1935 dit@ z wc my:

May 28, 1935. E. H. LICHTENBERG FLUID DISPENSING APPARATUS 2. Sheets-Sheet 2 n Filed Nov. 27, 1955 Immun Patented May 28, 1935 limiten STATES 2,003,153 FLUID DISPENSING APPARATUS I Erich H. Lichtenberg, Milwaukee, Wis., -assi'gnor to Koehring Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation Y Application November 27, A*1933, ySerial No. 699,990

I Y Claims.` `This invention relates to liquid dispensingv'apparatus yof 4the Asiphon type and uis adapted particularly for supplying measured'volum'es of fluid to mixing machines, .preferably concrete mixers,

albeit I do not care to limit theA field `of use `t0 flo this one `particular application, since it may 4be employed in other and further capacities, if so desired. 2

It -isof utmost importance in almost any mixingoperationwherein'fluid is employed, that the fluid-be vadded in the exact volume and this-is particularly so in the mixing of. cement wherein the exact ratio of fluid to theriuantity of cement isfnecessary to produce a mixture vthat will come up to the high specification set by highway ycommissions.

One object of this invention lies in the `provision of `4a fluid dispensing apparatus voi the siphon typewhich will deliver correctly,'each and everytimea predetermined and'measuredvolume of fluid, and which embodies the advantageous feature of a means for visibly indicating the volume of fluidv so delivered, and it may bepreset by the-operator.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for delivering an exact `measured Volume of fluid each and every time'. lIt is-of special importance to point outthat the apparatus is suchthat split-second termination of the iluid oW ris obtained to preserve the correctness of each volume of fluid delivered. f

4Another object of this invention lies in the provision `of an apparatus wherein vthe volume of fluid to be delivered may be varied foreach and every delivering operation andas an ancillary feature it may be pointed out that the quantity of each `volume of i'luid 'for any two successive deliveriesof .equal volume is not disturbed nor destroyed by tilting or" the fluid reservoir.

Another object of this invention islto provide means for loleedinfT off any entrapped air in the siphon system that might otherwise disrupt fthe operationof Vthe Siphon.

Other objects and advantageous features Aof the invention are to be observed from the followingdetailed description and accompanying draw ings, wherein like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts,rand wherein- Figure 1 is a sectional view of the preferred form of apparatus embodying my invention, certain of the parts being shown inelevation.

Figure 2is a detail of the top of the container disclosing the apparatus lying exteriorly thereof, such as `the air intake and `recording apparatus shown'therein.

Figure 3is atop plan view of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an end view of the member which is attached to the end of 'a flexible hose lying within the fluid reservoir `of Figure' 1, 'and communicating with kthe siphon pipe. l y

Figure 5 is'ase'ction'taken on the lineS-S of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is `a fragmentary view partly in section showing the yrelief valve for bleeding o'f entrapped air in the siphon system. Y

yAs-before mentioned, this invention 'has to do with the'delivery of measured quantities of iiud through'themedium of an apparatus'which'oper.- -ates 'upon a `Siphon principle.V Essentially, "it is my aimA to interrupt the operation of the siphon after va predetermined interval of operation, `by novel means "to be 'hereinafter disclosed, and whichcis associated with other apparatus in such a manner that this interval may be determined andcalibrated and translated into gallons upon a visible indicator so that the operator ,ofthe device vmay set the apparatus and rest assured thatthe proper and correct volume of fluid 'be delivered.

f With reference to the drawings, it will'be-observed that the siphonapparatus is mounted on" the top cover of the container A which'inaybeof any type desired and which has a drain or cleanout plug 'I inthe bottom thereof. The walls of this container define a iiuid4 reservoir 2 within which are located the inlet end oi the Siphon pipe, and associated instr'umentalities to'behereinafter mentioned, which are supported vfrointhe top cover by means of a plate or .head 3 bolted down by means of bolt and nut assemblies 4 .and which is suitablytapped 'to receive the threadedv ends of variouspipesand glands associated therewith.

Tracing the siph'on line, the large pipe 5 'islocated within the container A and is screwthrea'dedinto the plate 3 and has'its lower inlet end 6 spaced from the bottom of the container as shown. This pipe is locatedv slightly to one side of'the vertical center line of the container A for a purpose to be .hereinafter'described vFormed as a part of the plate member v3 .is a conduit 1 which communicates with the passage in the pipe`5 and forms a U-bend communicatingat its other end with a downwardly extending `pipe B which is threaded thereintoas shown'. The pipe* 8 ofcourse, as in allsiphons, terminates at its outletend ata pointbelow thebottom ofl the container and this end maybe valved in 'themanner yshown in my Letters Patent No. ,1,869,903 filed December 23, 1929, `patented August 2, 1932, to control the outiiow of fluid through the pipe 8 and the iniiow of fluid through the pipe 8 to ll the reservoir from an auxiliary container;

To permit of the passage of a predetermined volume of water from the container A, I have provided the assembly which includes a iiexible conduit member 9 which may be an ordinary section of hose which has a threaded nipple I0 on one end thereof secured to the siphon pipe 5 to effectcommunication between the hose and the pipe passage. The other end of the hose is joined by means of the clamp II to a member I2 which is of the form shown in Figure 4, which may be a simple machining having a longitudinal bore I3 and a bore I4 normal thereto that provide a lower or inlet passage communicating with the passage in the iexible tube 9. The machining further has an offset portion I5 drilled and tapped as at I6 to accommodate a screw-threaded member I1 as will be hereinafter brought out. This machining also has an arcuate endV I8 forming a guide surface bearing on the siphon'pipe 5. Referring to the screw threaded rod I, it will be observed that itis journaled atits lower end in a bearing formed in an extension I9 integral with the pipe 5j The screw threaded rod I l, Figure 3, lies'slightly off-center with respect to the rotational axis of the container A, thus bringing the intake opening I-i ofthe member I2 on the exact vertical vaxis of the container, A. Hence, tilting of the container to oneside or the 4other does not result in an appreciable variance in the actual volume of water passed for each successive siphoning operation. In actual test it has been found that this variance in volume resulting from different angular positions of the containerv A when employing the apparatus disclosed here# in, does not exceed one pint. The importance of this feature cannot be stressed too much Ysince the quality of a mix depends largely on proper propoitioning of the constituents. Rotation of the screw threaded rod Il' feeds the member I2 toward and away'from` the bottom of the container to vary the positional relation between the lowermost end of the siphon pipe 5, namely the intake 6, and the intake I4 of the hose 9.

This operation is carried out manually through a handle member 20 located exteriorly of the container A. The shank of the rod is sealed against leakage by means of the gland 2| in the zone of the plate 3.

To visibly indicate the volume of water to be dispensed, I have provided the assembly which includes the calibrated dial 22 having calibrations 23 indicating gallons. This dial is supported by an arm 24 mounted on the shank of the member I1 above the gland nut and held in place by the washer 25 which further mounts a fixed pointer 26. The periphery of the dial 22 is toothed as at 2l for cooperation with a worm 28 mounted on the shaft I1 for rotation therewith, which is held in place by the collar 29. The assembly for supporting the dial, namely the arm 24, is such that it may be swung. about the axis of the shaft Il and secured in any onev of a number of positions of adjustment by the set screw 30. This is purely to convenience the operator. Obviously, rotation of the handle 20 will rotate the dial 22 as well as adjust the member I2 for height.

The operation of the device is substantially as followsi- The operator desires to pass three gallons of water from container A, and, assuming that the siphon is in readiness for oper-Y ation, Vthe handle 20 is rotated until the dialand pointer coincide at 3 gallons as shown. This operation moves the member I2 a predetermined distance so that the outlet I4 bears a certain denite positional relation to the inlet 6 or the bottom of the container. It is to be observed that this inlet I4 is at all times above the inlet 6. The flow of uicl through the siphon continues until such time as the level of the Water reaches the same plane as the lower plane of the inlet I4 and when there is any further lowering of the surface of the fluid in the container A, there is an immediate and instantaneous passage of air through the hose 9 which equalizes the pressure'in the siphon system and instantaneously Varrests any further operation thereof or flow of fluid therefrom. It may be pointed out that the tank is more or less self-cleaning since dirt and extraneous matter which may settle to the bottom are passed with the siphon ow out the siphon pipe and to the point of discharge. This keeps the container A clean at all times and free from deposits which may at some time or other become loosened and choke the siphon pipe. Of course the clean-out I may be resorted to if the sludge becomes so heavy as to interfere with the normal operation of the siphon and-cannot be carried off thereby.

To overcome the disrupting or failure of the siphon systemdue to entrapped air at some point in the line, I have provided a novel relief valve arrangement generally indicated at I-I, Figure il, which is intended to bleed off such entrapped air. It has been found that in a siphon system which incorporates a U-bend as disclosed, air is liable to be entrapped in the zone J often in sufcient volume to occasion the failure of the siphon. To avoid this occurrence, the pipe casting 'I is provided with an auxiliary channel 30 that communicates with the interior of the tank A and with a cross bore 3I which is threaded as at 32 at its upper extremity and passaged at 3 so that communication may be established between the zone J and the zone 3l. A ball 34 controls the flow of fiuid through the passage 33 and is urged by a weak spring onto its seat. The spring is held in position through engagement with the lower end of a pipe 36 screwed into the part 32 which mounts a chambered casting 3l having a chamber 38 communicating with the passage in the pipe 36 and a chamber 39 thereabove vented as at 40 to the atmosphere and having a oat valve 4I for controlling the iiuid flow between chambers 38 and 39. The valve is suspended from the casing by a bolt 42 as shown. The degree of travel of the valve 4I is controlled by the nut 43.

In operation it will be assumed that during the filling of container A when backlow is obtained, in the pipes 8, l, and 5, water overcomes the resistance of the spring 3| and Water enters the tank A through both the main siphon pipe 5 and the auxiliary passage 30 and at the same time fluid enters the pipe 36 and lls the chamber 38, thus causing the iioat 4I to close against its seat and prevent the escape of Water through the vent openings 40. It will be assumed that during this operation a certain volume of air becomes entrapped in the zone J and that the pressure thereon is sufiicientv to unseat the ball 34, whereupon the air nlters through the water in the passage 36 and into Ythe chamber 33 where it rises to the Zone of the oat valve 4I. The water of course is displacedin the zone of the Valve 4I and since the said valve depends on buoyancy to main- 2, coarse tain it in position, the valve drops and the air is, vented and upon rise of the water, .thevalve is again caused to rise against its seat and prevent the escape of water.

Thisaction is substantially as described, a1- though it may go on at any time during the filling or" the'tank A since it is apparent that the air may` rise in the chamber 38 untill such time as `it collects in Sufficient volume to displace the fluid buoying the valve 4l.

When the tank A is completely filled, of course water completely nlls the passage 3D,.and the passage 3l and the chamber 38, so that the pressure on both Sides of the ball valve 34 is equalized except the pressure on the other side is overbalanced by thestrength of the Spring 3.I If the air has collected in zone J `in sufficient quantity to substantially fill the U-bend, rstarting of the Siphon action would not take place when the valve is thrown to the position normally permitting discharge of the tank A; but under such conditions the pressure on the underside of the ball Sil is greater than that in the line 3G combined with the pressure of the spring 3| and hence the ball 3A is unseated and the air bubbles out. As the fluid level falls the line 3B is gradually drained so that the pipe 36 and chamber 38 become drained and air may be taken'in to the tank A through the vents 451, the ball 34 guarding the passage 33.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to Secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a fluid measuring device., a container, the walls of which define a fluid reservoir, a Siphon pipe extending into said reservoir and having an inlet end spaced from the bottom of the container, means for admitting a flow of fluid to the Siphon pipe during siphoning operation to interrupt the Siphon flow, said means comprising a flexible conduit entwined about the Siphon pipe and opening at one end to the Siphon passage and at the other end into the container, said last mentioned end being disposed at the vertical axis of the container, means for moving the end of the flexible conduit opening into the container relative to the end of the Siphon pipe and along the vertical axis of the container to vary the distance therebetween and likewise the volume of fluid passing through the siphon.

2. In a fluid measuring device, a container, the walls of which define a fluid reservoir, asiphon pipe extending into Said reservoir, and means for varying the interval of Siphon to vary the volume of fluid passed, Said means comprising a flexible helical conduit communicating with said Siphon pipe and having a vertically movable free end opening into said reservoir, and means at said free end and Slidably cooperating with said Siphon pipe for guiding said free end during vertical movement thereof.

3. In a fluid measuring device, a container, the Walls of which define a fluid reservoir, a Siphon pipe extending into said reservoir, and means for interrupting the fluid flow, which comprises a.

flexible helical conduit communicating with said Siphon pipe and having a free end opening into said reservoir, and means for positioning said free end at various points in the direction of the length of the fluid column in the reservoir, said means including a screw shaft extending downwardly within the container and on which is mounted a Screw sleeve having an upwardly opening passage therein communicating with the free end of the flexible conduit, the end of which upwardly opening passage lies substantially' on the vertical axis of the container, the adjustmentof thefree end as aforesaid causing expansion and contraction of the fractional parts of the helical convolute 'of the flexible conduit in a longitudinal direction. Y

4.*In a fluid measuring device, afcontai'ner having walls which define a fluid reservoir, a Siphon pipe extending into Said reservoirand having an inlet end, means for varying the intervalv of Siphon to vary the volume of fluid passed,

lilla comprising a flexible conduit communicating at one end with the Siphon pipe and having an inlet end disposed on the vertical centerY lineV of said container, Said flexible conduit being wholly disposed within said reservoir, and means for varying the positional relation between the inlet end of Said conduit and the inlet end of said Siphon pipe. i

6. In a fluid measuring device, a container, the walls of which define a uid reservoir, a Siphon pipe extending into said reservoir and having an inlet end spaced from the bottom thereof, means for interrupting the fluid flow of said Siphon during operation to vary the amount of fluid discharged, which comprises a flexible conduit communicating at one end with said Siphon, and at the other end with the fluid in the reservoir, and means for adjusting said last named end with relation to the Siphon inlet which includes a threaded member mounted on the last named end of said conduit, a mating threaded member cooperating therewith, and means for operating said last named threaded member exteriorly of said container.

6. In a fluid measuring device, a container the walls of which denne a luid reservoir, a Siphon pipe extending into said reservoir and having an inlet end spaced from the bottom thereof, means for interrupting the fluid flow of said Siphon during operation to vary the amount of fluid discharged, which comprises a flexible hose communicating with said Siphon pipe at a point above the inlet and having an inlet end communicating with Said reservoir, and means for raising and lowering said inlet end to vary the instant when air in Said reservoir is admitted to the Siphon pipe during operation to interrupt the operation thereof, said means comprising a screw rod, and means associated with Said last named means for visibly indicating the volume of fluid passed during a siphoning interval controlled as to its termination by the admission of air to the Siphon through the conduit and means for adjusting the position of the visible indicator means to present the same for convenient observation according to the position of the operator.

7. In a fluid dispensing system, a container, the walls of which denne a fluid reservoir, a Siphon pipe extending into said reservoir for drawing fluid therefrom, adjustable means within said container and associated with the Siphon pipe for selectively interrupting the fluid flow during Siphon operation, whereby varying amounts of fluid may be passed, and means for releasing entrapped air in the Siphon pipe to prevent failure of starting the Siphon system, said means including a pair of valves having a chamber therebetween in continuously open communication with said reservoir one of which valves is operable in response to pressure in the Siphon System, the other of which is operable in response to variations in water level.

8. In a fluid dispensing system, a means forY venting air that collects in said system, which Vco l comprises a member having a pair of uid chambers therein, one of which .communicates with atmosphere, a valve between Said uid chambers operable in response to variations in iiuid level, a pipe connecting one yof said Achambers with Said System, and a valve in said pipe operable in response to variations in pressure in said system.

9. A means for releasingy entrapped air in pipes forming at least a part of a Siphon System or the like, which includes a pairof valves, one of which is operable in response to pressure in the Siphon System and the other of which is operable in response to uid level.

10. A Siphon unit for fluid measuring devices of the class described, comprising a head con- Stituting a support, a Siphon pipe carried thereby and extending to one side of said head, a substantially U-Shaped conduit on the other side of Said head and communicating with said Siphon pipe, means carried by said head for interrupting` Siphon action, said means including a exible conduit communicating at one end with the siphon pipe adjacent the head and the other end of Said exible conduit Ybeing open and located adjacent the Siphon pipe, means for adjusting the position of the open end of said flexible conduit to vary the distance between said open end and the free end o said Siphon pipe, said means coacting with Said free end and with said Siphon pipe to guide the open end of the exible conduit longitudinally of said Siphon pipe in a zone relatively close to Said Siphon pipe, means carried by Said head and coacting with Said adjusting means for indicating the relative position of Said open end of the flexible conduit with respect to the free end of said Siphon pipe, and vent means carried by said head.

ERICH H. LICHTENBERG. 

